Donna F. Edwards

Donna F. Edwards
U.S. House of Representatives
(D-4th/MD)

"I thank IAPAC for their support and commitment to maintaining open dialogue, sharing views, and advocating for issues on behalf of the Iranian American community. I look forward to working with IAPAC in the future."

Donna F. Edwards of Fort Washington represents Maryland’s 4th Congressional District since 2008. The new 4th district comprises portions of Prince George's and Anne Arundel County.

Edwards became the first African American woman from Maryland to serve in Congress after being elected in a special election to the 110th Congress in June 2008. She serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as well as the Committee on Science and Technology. She also serves as a member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.

Edwards has enjoyed a diverse career as a nonprofit public interest and in the private sector on NASA’s Spacelab project. Just prior to serving in Congress, she was the executive director of the Arca Foundation in Washington, DC. She was also the co-founder and executive director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence where she led the effort to pass The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 that was signed into law by President Bill Clinton.

Edwards was a cosponsor of House Resolution 267. The resolution, which recognizes the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz and expresses appreciation to Iranian Americans for their contributions to society, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in March of 2010. The Nowruz resolution was part of IAPAC’s broader efforts to foster greater understanding of Iranian culture and heritage as well as to project an accurate and positive image of the Iranian American community that reflects our true values and achievements.